What an amazing year 2012 has been! Our council-girls, volunteers and staff-came together to celebrate our proud and amazing past while forging ahead into the second century of Girl Scouts. GSHPA organized our 100th anniversary activities around three goals:

Empower girls to impact their communityGirls and leaders delivered on this goal with outstanding Forever Green and 100th anniversary community service projects across our 30-county footprint.

Increase the visibility of Girl ScoutsThe outpouring of local Service Unit celebrations and local exhibitions of our archives, as well as our television presence on Public TV and the establishment of Troop PA in the Pennsylvania General Assembly, translated into a flood of great press coverage from every region of the council, including front page and feature articles.

Ensure a vibrant present and future for Girl ScoutsThe work we all did to achieve the goals above gave GSHPA the ability to tell a great story about our council's direction and demonstrate to our supporters that Girl Scouts is on the move and is needed by the girls of the second century. As a result, GSHPA raised $3.5 million over the past two years and we're optimistic about meeting our $5 million goal by our campaign deadline, which is September 30, 2013.

Our greatest 100th anniversary memories of all? They are of watching generations of Girl Scouts passing the torch to the younger girls in so many meaningful and loving ways. We all lived out GSHPA's 100th anniversary theme-Inspiring Generations-through the speakers, celebrations and service projects that celebrated and united the past, present and the future of our great Girl Scout movement.

Congratulations and endless thank you to every member of Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania. Have a fabulous, healthy holiday season.

With appreciation,

Kate CrowleyJane Ransom

Board ChairPresident & CEO

Calling All Cadettes, Seniors & Ambassadors who love to Cook!

Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors who love cooking and want to incorporate a little more of Healthy Promise into some of their favorite mealtimes will not want to miss out on this! Encourage them to register now to attend one or both of our two-part Video Chat series entitled "Healthy Eating with Chef Jenn" from the comfort of their home computers while Chef Jenn shares her secrets to making everyday meals healthier. Chef Jenn Thompson owns ForknSpoon Café, an urban eatery in Lancaster, PA where her rotating menu includes a healthy selection of gourmet soups, artisan sandwiches, fresh fruit and vegetable salads and dinner entrees and was recently named "2012 Best New Restaurant" by Lancaster County Magazine.

$6 per person per Episode (includes one Healthy Promise participation patch for each video chat.)

Learn to Be Healthy Website - FREE Subscription for Troop Leaders and Girls

GSHPA is pleased to provide troop leaders who have requested their FREE volunteer Healthy Promise guides with a FREE subscription to a safe and fun website which offers health information and interactive games to youth audiences ages 5-18.

The FREE online subscription is also available to ALL registered girl members of GSHPA.

Please click here to access our Healthy Promise webpage with more information and/or to register for password and login information.

Free Healthy Promise Volunteer Guides

If you still haven't requested your free grade-level specific Volunteer Troop Leader Guide so your troop can incorporate Healthy Promise-themed activities into your upcoming troop meetings, don't wait! One FREE Healthy Promise Volunteer Guide is available for each registered troop during the 2013 membership year to get you started and must be requested by the troop's leader.

Please click on the appropriate link below to order for your troop level.

Kick off the Girl Scout Cookie Program in style at one of our five Cookie College locations! Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania will be hosting Cookie Rallies and Colleges on January 5, 2013 at locations in the North, Northeast, South, South Central and West Regions. The deadline to register is 11:59 p.m. on December 14, 2012. Cost is $5 per girl.

Cookie Rallies - 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Girl Scouts in grades K-5 can attend Cookie Rallies and participate in a variety of fun activities, while learning customer service and marketing techniques.

South Central Region - Dixon University Center in Harrisburg, PA | REGISTRTATION FULL

Cookie Colleges - 1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Girl Scouts in grades 6-12 can become newly minted CEOs (Cookie Entrepreneur Officers) at Cookie College later in the afternoon from 1:30 - 4:00 p.m. also for only $5 per girl. Once they "graduate" they will be armed with the tools they need for a successful cookie season!

The GSHPA Council Store is hitting the road again this spring. The mobile version of the Council Store has been a huge hit among volunteers in all regions of our council, and we are scheduled to visit a total of four locations again this Spring.

Plan now to check-out a variety of Girl Scout and GSHPA items at one of the five dates and locations listed below which is most convenient for you in March and April.

Saturday, March 2 from 11 am - 2 pm at the York Service Center - 1213 Carlisle Road, York, PA

Saturday, March 9 from 11 am - 2 pm at the State College Service Center - 1040-1 Benner Pike, State College, PA

Need something now? Remember there's no need to wait for the Traveling Store, the online store is available 24/7! Click here to shop now!

Camp Registration Begins January 1, 2013

As the hustle and bustle of the holiday season approaches, summer camp is probably NOT on your mind - but it should be! Summer camp registration begins January 1, 2013! Camp guides are being mailed to girls and troop leaders later this month, so look for yours soon.

Camp Small Valley in Halifax, PA will be your destination station for Summer Camp 2013. We have exciting new programs, a new state of the art Adventure Course with ropes courses, a climbing wall and zip line, as well as a new archery range and barn! Ever hear of Ga-ga? Not the singer - the game! Girls will get to test their skills dodging the ball in our new Ga-ga pit too! Plus, both Traditional and Ranch Camp are back this year! We are even testing out a session of mini-camp - which might entice girls who are ready for more than day camp but are unsure if they are ready for a full week of sleep away camp.

Sleep Away Camp Weeks

June 16 - 21

June 23 - 28

June 30 - July 3 (Mini-camp)

July 7 - July 12

July 14 - 19

July 21 - 26

July 28 - August 2

August 4 - 9

August 11 - 16

Western Riding Camp

June 16 - July 19

English Riding Camp

July 21 - August 16

As we continue to enhance our outdoor programs and facilities, we are only able to offer a premier camping experience at Camp Small Valley in 2013. While we'll begin construction on the new dining hall at Camp Archbald soon, it will not be ready in time for this year's summer camp season. But don't worry, Camp Archbald will be up and running in 2014! Click here for our Summer Camp webpage with all the information you need to know!

If your service unit received a 100th Anniversary mini-grant, don't forget to submit your financial report to Shelly Sprenkle by January 31, 2013. Not submitting your financial report will automatically make your Service Unit ineligible to receive a Healthy Promise mini-grant for next Fall.

The GSHPA Service Unit Delegate serves as the primary communication link between the Girl Scout members in her/his service unit and GSHPA's Board of Directors. Delegates have the opportunity to influence governance decisions which benefit all girls in GSHPA's jurisdiction.

Service Unit Managers, please ensure your service unit is represented by electing delegates at your next meeting.

For more information or to have questions addressed, contact your Membership Associate or Regional Director.